Winter weather
Midwest's first freeze came historically late; Chicago, Detroit still waiting
By Ryan Hall, Y'all Weather Desk · Published · Updated
Written by our automated news desk from National Weather Service data.
What's new: Added rankings; Cincinnati's 31 and Indianapolis's 32 await confirmation in official daily reports after midnight tonight.
Key points
- Where: The Upper Midwest, central Plains, Great Lakes and Ohio Valley.
- When: Minneapolis froze Friday, Nov. 6. Des Moines, Fort Wayne, Milwaukee and Lexington followed Saturday, Nov. 7. Cincinnati hit 31 this morning.
- What: Several cities had one of their latest first freezes in well over a century of records. Others haven't frozen at all yet.
- What it means: A colder pattern late this week could end some freeze-free streaks, but we don't have city-by-city lows for it yet.
Updated 11:15 AM ET Sunday.
Updated 11:15 AM ET Sunday.
The first freeze of the fall finally reached Minneapolis, Des Moines and Fort Wayne this week, and each landed among the five latest on record. Cincinnati dropped to 31 this morning, but Chicago, Detroit, Columbus, St. Louis, Omaha and Grand Rapids all stayed above 32.
Where the freeze finally showed up
Minneapolis-St. Paul dropped to 31 on Nov. 6. That ties for the 3rd latest first freeze in 153 seasons of records going back to 1872. Only 1900 (Nov. 7) and 2016 (Nov. 18) were later.
Des Moines hit 32 on Nov. 7, tied for the 4th latest in 147 seasons. Fort Wayne also hit 32 on Nov. 7, the 5th latest in 121 seasons.
Milwaukee and Lexington both reached 32 on Nov. 7. Milwaukee tied for the 14th latest of 155 seasons, and Lexington tied for the 21st latest of 141.
Cincinnati's airport fell to 31 this morning. If that holds in the official daily climate report after midnight tonight, it ties for the 15th latest of 154 seasons. Indianapolis touched exactly 32 on the airport's overnight reading. It counts as a freeze only if that same report shows 32, and if it does, it would tie for the 12th latest of 155 seasons.
Who's still waiting
Some big cities haven't had a freeze yet. Grand Rapids and Omaha are the rarest cases. Only 4 of 132 seasons in Grand Rapids and 5 of 155 in Omaha got past Nov. 8 with no freeze. Grand Rapids bottomed out at 37 this morning, and Omaha at 40.
Detroit (34), Toledo (33) and Columbus (33) came within a degree or two of freezing. They are less rare, with 10 to 15 seasons each that went past Nov. 8 without one. Chicago O'Hare (40 this morning) has had 21 of 154 seasons go this long. Cleveland, St. Louis and Louisville have had 29 to 40 such seasons each, so their waits are less unusual.
Here "freeze" means a low of 32 or colder at the official airport station on or after July 1.
What's next
Our winter storm outlook shows a sharp trough digging across the Midwest and Great Lakes around Thursday. A coastal storm should form off the Mid-Atlantic coast Thursday into Friday, and cold northwest winds follow it. That pattern could end some freeze-free streaks. Storms are possible in the southern Great Lakes and Ohio Valley on Wednesday ahead of it.
Accumulating snow with that storm is favored in the higher terrain of Pennsylvania, upstate New York and northern New England, with the best totals in the Adirondacks and the Green and White Mountains. Lake-effect snow and rain showers follow downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario. Confidence is moderate, and the exact rain-snow line is still being worked out.
What to do
- In cities still above freezing: Watch the overnight lows late this week.
- Tender plants and pots: Bring them in or cover them when frost or freezing temperatures are in your forecast.
- Outdoor plumbing: Disconnect and drain garden hoses. If your sprinkler system hasn't been blown out, do it before the first hard freeze.
- Pets and livestock: Check that outdoor water bowls and troughs aren't freezing and that animals have shelter.
- Stay in the loop: Check active warnings for Freeze Warnings in your county, or sign up for free Y'all Alerts.
Bottom line
Minneapolis, Des Moines and Fort Wayne had historically late first freezes, and Chicago, Detroit and St. Louis are still waiting. A colder pattern late this week could change that, so finish the fall yard chores before the colder air arrives.
| City | First freeze | Rank among latest |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | Nov 6 (31 F) | Tied for 3rd latest of 153 seasons |
| Des Moines | Nov 7 (32 F) | Tied for 4th latest of 147 seasons |
| Fort Wayne | Nov 7 (32 F) | 5th latest of 121 seasons |
| Milwaukee | Nov 7 (32 F) | Tied for 14th latest of 155 seasons |
| Cincinnati | Nov 8 (31 F) | Ties 15th latest of 154 seasons; official report pending |
| Lexington | Nov 7 (32 F) | Tied for 21st latest of 141 seasons |
| City | Low this morning | Seasons that went past Nov 8 with no fre |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids | 37 F | 4 of 132 seasons |
| Omaha | 40 F | 5 of 155 seasons |
| Detroit | 34 F | 10 of 152 seasons |
| Toledo | 33 F | 11 of 152 seasons |
| Columbus | 33 F | 15 of 148 seasons |
| Chicago O'Hare | 40 F | 21 of 154 seasons |
| Cleveland | 37 F | 29 of 155 seasons |
| St. Louis | 37 F | 33 of 152 seasons |
| Louisville | 35 F | 40 of 153 seasons |
First freeze tracker: every big city's date
Explained: What a Freeze Warning means, and how it differs from a Frost Advisory
More on First freeze 2026
Places in this story: Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN; Des Moines, IA; Fort Wayne, IN; Cincinnati, OH; Grand Rapids, MI; Omaha, NE; Milwaukee, WI; Indianapolis, IN; Detroit, MI; Toledo, OH; Chicago, IL; Cleveland, OH
Sources
- NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS station records, NOAA Regional Climate Centers (ACIS)
- NOAA RCC ACIS StnData, NOAA Regional Climate Centers (ACIS)
- NWS ASOS routine observations 1151Z-1156Z Nov 8, 2026 (6-hour minimum temperature groups) via, National Weather Service
- Iowa Environmental Mesonet observations, Iowa Environmental Mesonet (Iowa State University)